Incorrigible !ndia

Indians are a racist lot.

There's is so much of dislike going around everywhere. Especially in today's world, seems as if people can't stand the sight of each other. I wonder why. taking a small example, my landlady does not like the tenants staying a floor below her. Says they are too 'banagalored'.

I retort in my head saying "where are you from then -  Bedforshire?!!"

Its as if there was an undercurrent of dislike that flows wherever i look to - i mean, its appalling. If i was to close my eyes and put my finger on the political map of India (the white paper thingy with the states drawn in that we used to gt in schools) I would have another race/religion/ethnicity/language/caste that was diametrically opposite in ideology to it (read: bloodthirsty lutes at each other's throats)

Be it the folks from Gujarat (or wherever they are from) called as 'Gujjars' or honor killers from Haryana - all of them are cuckoo in their collective heads. there seems to be no room for level headed people anymore.

"park in my lane - will you?!?!??" a club to the head and the argument is sorted out in a most sordid fashion.

brawn it seems - has taken over the streets in its most pathetic state - mob violence.

When i was younger (and less discretionary) i was witness to an incident in Delhi (pronounced: Dilli) that has a name now - road rage. A scooterist , an endangered species to begin wit, was hit lightly by a Maruti 800 from behind.

Now, we all know that loons with half a head drive scooters. And, these same loons when they do land some money buy the Maruti 800 - which incidentally, is a take-away box with wheels attached.

So, it could be easily construed as an incident where a person of the same community hit another in a random act of misjudged timing. Say your sorries and make way for traffic with out a ruckus.

But, no! - this incident has economic undertones - when i look back at it - it was a case of "tere paas mere se jyada paisa hai, AUR TUNE MUJHE MARA?!!!" The scooterist quietly got down, proceeded to remove his helmet and use it to bludgeon the poor guy sitting in the 800. And, you thought helmets were made to protect people. Hah!

We live in unfortunate times - i have to say. So unfortunate that; not a day is spent by where you don't have to navigate your life through marauding morons with verbal/physical clubs.

The divide is so yawning that there has to be a mediator in every transactory act. This mediator can be best identified by the smug expression on his face and the satisfied smile that he gives you after he has successfully managed to deliver results. A rare lot - they are to be coveted in any unfamiliar territory with utmost care. They will get you where ordinary mortals couldn't and make sure you have the necessary resources to manage things thoroughly.

But, that is not a sure fire solution. You are still stuck in hostile environment. the adage goes "if you cant beat 'em, join 'em". I decided to adopt it when i came to Bangalore for the first time. I tried learning the language but it sounded like a series of garbled abuses thrown at cowering listeners. Not, that my own mother tongue - Marathi sounds any different to the uninititated; i quickly abandoned any effort whatsoever to learn the language and adopted the one language that is gladly accepted and understood nationally - English.

And, it worked - in fact for 2 straight years i have uttered only 2 words of the local language -

'Kannada Gotilla' (i Dunno Kannada)

Unfortunately, for the locals its a matter of pride - I picture a Raj Thakery hopping up and down blowing smoke through his nostrils. The case is similar here as well.. Heck - the case is similar anywhere in the sub continent. Punjabi's will heckle you, Bengali's will look down upon you, Bihari's will kidnap you and hand you over to Assamese who will behead you - bit not before making you dance by trapping your legs in bamboos, Gujarati's will straight away swindle you, Maharashtrian's will beat you up for trying to work in thier city, so will Kannadiga's , Andhraite's will gather together and bitch about you and Tams will talk to you as if you were steeped in their culture, then realise that you aren't one of them, relieve you of your money and make you feel worthless because you aren't from their great country oops - State.

I love my India!

P.S. - Relax - its for fun. Take it that way :)

Radha Rewind

She was just finishing the word document that her boss had dumped on her. This was increasingly becoming the norm with her boss. It was a rainy Friday evening.

Oh! how she hated him.

But, what she hated more was the fact that she did not have a sympathetic ear to talk to. She felt the loneliness around her magnified by the absence of that someone whose shoulder she could take support on.

And the sham she had to put up for all to see - God! it was too much!

The world had relegated her to a role which was 'a successful working woman' - sans emotion and fiercely competitive. She had to play the part. Shakespeare's quote of the world being a stage rang true in her head.

People would shy away from her, taking a look at her profile and and her aspirations.

She felt as if no one understood her.

The document she was working on stopped responding.

"Goddamn Word... hung again!" she thought exasperated.

In a flash of anger, very characteristic of her, she shut the laptop with a loud thud. That drew curious stares from her co workers.

"Go f*** yourselves!" she thought in her head. It must have shown on her face because the nearest guy staring at her hurriedly swiveled on his chair and dove back into his excel sheet.

She stalked out of the office and snapped at the evening security guard. A small voice inside her said otherwise but it was vehemently sidelined by what she was now.

She got into her car and noisily slammed the door shut.

"At least this is enjoyable..." she thought to herself sourly.

Flipping on the radio; she squealed out of the parking lot and into the mainstream suburban traffic.

"God must be a five year old, five year old's are sadists" she thought angrily.

Approaching the intersection, she was supposed to take a right turn home. Realizing that she'd never explored any other route from office - she decided to take the left. It seemed clear of traffic as well.

"So what if I'm half an hour late to home - not like any one's waiting!" she thought to herself gruffly.

Flipping ABS off - she speeded up on the lone stretch of road. It was a beautiful night. The moon was shining down on the wet road. It had just rained and there was  no one on the empty stretch of road. The milestones indicated that she was headed away from her home. But in her current state of mind - she was least bothered.

She kept on going, stepping on the gas. the tires began squealing in the corners as she took them at higher and higher speed.

"More performance.." she thought to herself as she flipped the air con off and rolled down the window.  This was her mantra in life - more performance - at any cost. The beautiful draft of wind that blew in the car cabin invigorated her.

But that did nothing to lift her mood up which was still sour at her boss. Life it seemed had been unfair to her. Her parents had paid more attention to her elder brother, not that he was an idiot. He was doing pretty well for himself in the States.

"Well, he had been sent there by Dad" she thought unkindly.

"otherwise he would have been an electrician or something"

"Couldn't he have spared enough money to send me as well" she thought angrily. The speed of the car picked up even more.

Her thoughts floated to the promotion that her colleague Naresh had just got.

"Bastard hardly works - keeps staring at me - bloody lecher - and gets a promotion. I know i work more than him - I KNOW!" she slammed the steering wheel with her hands. they hurt.

"I should have been a man - I would have torn this guy apart..."

"Why don't I just die..." she thought painfully.

There was a loud noise from somewhere behind her. For a second everything seemed fine...

And then, the car careened wildly - fishtailing on the wet and slippery road at high speed.

Realizing that a Tyre had burst, she fought with the car to regain control - slamming on the brakes - she forgot she had turned ABS off - the wheels locked up on the wet road. The car was an uncontrollable mass of metal traveling at high speed.

She was frozen solid with fear - as she saw a turn in the road. And a bright light engulfed everything...

"You asked for it..." she heard a gentle voice,

Radha could not see anything - it was too bright, she was squinting

"What the hell..." she thought to herself.

"No, not Hell technically. Not yet..." the voice answered reading her thoughts.

"It'll be pretty soon if you keep up at it..." continued the voice.

"Who...what...what the f***..." she was completely disoriented.

"My, my..." the voice said -

"We are grouchy - aren't we now..." 

The voice was getting a bit irritating now.

"Who are you?!" 

She finally shouted.

"God..." 

The voice said simply.

"God?!!!" 

She almost screamed.

"Yes" the voice said.

"Whats with the light?!! I cant even see you..." she picked up an arm to shield herself away from the light - only to realize she didn't have one. She looked down horrified to find no body .All she saw was a shimmering ethereal bluish - black wisp of smoke floating around where her body was supposed to be.

"Its called a soul..." the voice answered reading her thoughts.

"Listen dude..." she snapped...

"God..." the voice interrupted her.

"Yeah...whatever, and turn the darn light off!!" she was hysterical. There was a loud click and the bright light was off. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw a five year old kid with curly hair approaching. She recoiled in terror.

"Yo..you..you are God?!?!?!!" she was hardly able to get it out.

"The child gave a cute naughty smile. he was sprightly and had long silky hair. Fair and well built he came close to Radha. Radha floated away, her smokey body was turbid in appearance.

 The child suddenly turned into her Boss, and then into her father, and then into the security guard.

"STOP IT!!! PLEASE!!!" she was on the verge of tears. Or, within context, welling up water vapor.

"OK, OK.. i thought it would be a cool stunt. But do you get my point?!" the security guard asked. The voice had the same benign quality around it. It seemed to have a calming effect on her. She felt light as well - which felt strange.

"What point??!" she asked puzzled.

"Well, that I am everywhere! Your boss, your father, the security guard you snapped at this evening. Heck - even the imagined five year old..." the voice said.

"Are you showing off??" she asked pugnaciously.

"Look, i gotta wrap up here sweety. So be with me OK? I haven't got all night" the voice was still benign but there was an element of testiness in it now.

"OK..." she said meekly.

"Right! So, you have been dissing me for quite a while now...correct?" the security guard posed a question to her.

"Yeah..."she shrugged.

"I am not going to ask why because you have been telling me the same story for a million years! See, the plain and simple reason for your suffering is that you're being nasty to people."

"That's horseshit!" she exclaimed. And checking herself  "I'm sorry".

"Exactly my point, who in their senses would say 'that's horseshit' to something God's telling them?". the security guard rolled his eyes.

"Not many...and...I said, I am sorry" she said in a small voice.

"Wrong! all of you all" the guard said exasperatedly ignoring her apology.

"You'll are just plain mean to each other all the bloody time - and then say I am doing this! You think i have the time?!?!" he thundered.

"I gotta save humanity from dolts like you, and there are lots of them; billions in fact; everyone of you is a dolt on some level..." the guard looked pretty calm - surprisingly.

"Well, I am sorry..." she began.

"No, no, that's not good enough - Do you know - why you have a bluish-black smoky appearance?" he asked.

"No..."

"Because you always keep thinking dark despairing things!" he exclaimed.

"Really?" she asked.

"Yeah, be positive baby..." his voice softened. He continued.

"Listen, i really have to go, but remember, keep praying. And, stop dissing me heartlessly. I really don't like being called names. Not that ill do something nasty in return, I just like you too much..."

he almost finished...

"Oh yeah, another thing, when you pray - ask for what'll be good for you, not what you want - because you're just plain stupid in asking for the right things.." he smiled broadly. Just looking at the broadly smiling security guard made her feel warm all inside her gaseous state.

"Be good sweetheart...everything will fall in place..."

Before she could react - he stuck a hand inside her Smokey self. The smoke disappeared instantly. There was a loud click in the background as everything was engulfed in the same bright light.

She woke up as usual to the ringing alarm. She eyed the wall clock lazily. It was 8 a.m.

"What a weird dream" she thought hazily.

 "Heh...God - it seems..." she guffawed in her head.

She groggily made coffee and turned on the news. Her brain seemed stiff, almost zombie like.
There was a to-do list stuck with a magnet on the refrigerator.There was something scribbled on it with crayon. She took a closer look and squinted through glazed eyes - It had only two points
1. Be good
2. Pray
The handwriting looked like a five year old's.

"Must be the next door neighbor's son..." she thought stupidly.

She took one long swig of coffee and proceeded to spit it out all over the kitchen counter as she saw the date flashing on the ticker of the news channel. 

Friday 21st May.

P.S. - Due respect to 'Bruce Almighty'.

Miles to go before i sleep...

There is something amazingly therapeutic about travelling on highways and expressways.

The constant hum of the engine offset occasionally by a pothole or two, the changing scenery whipping past ranging from beautiful highlands to grassy plains and everything in the middle - all of them breathtaking.

It's more about enjoying the journey than reaching the destination. The utter pleasure of flooring the accelerator on an open stretch of road is indescribable, especially when you have a 2.5 litre diesel engine waiting at your disposal with bated breath.

Now, every journey, however short - should be taken in utmost comfort. Otherwise, its just another point A to point B travel trying to pinch some pennies in the process. Also, disturbing the individual alignment of your backside.

To address this issue -you have the awesome SUVs.

The Innova is a case in point - although it does not really qualify as an out-and-out SUV, it also does not deserve the tag of being branded as a people carrier. It sits, ensconced somewhere in the middle - and that middle is gargantuan. Calling it huge would be an understatement - It is cavernous!

And - pretty fast for a rock formation.

The 2.5L engine belts out enough thrust while making the loudest grunt possible to propel this rhino out of signals and right ahead with the Skodas and the Honda's. It is surprisingly agile for its girth although there is enough body roll during cornering; to encourage any 5 year old's system to give up their recently had lunch. That said, the comfort is excellent. Its like leaning on an American. Thick and loud!

So, enough about the vehicle. That's not what I'm talking about (not entirely). The countryside with the breathtakingly rolling hills and windswept roads is mesmerising. The lane markers zipping past under you is almost hypnotic. Not to mention the pleasantly sudden strains of a Kishore Kumar suddenly appearing out of nowhere on the FM that wasn't catching anything while in transit.

Another extremely indulgent aspect of road trips is the roadside dhabas. These are a brilliant concept probably spearheaded by Punjabi's and truckers (they are not the same, clubbing them is just coincidental) who know what to eat when on the road. 

Or, it also could be the hunger that makes the most averagely tempered meal taste like manna. The customary taaaaaall glass of lassi or buttermilk (depending where you are in India) after finishing a most satiating meal is the right punch line to every food possible (yes, i am a glutton). Hitting the road on a content stomach is equal to a well fed army covering ground on a war footing.

Ok - taking stock - Food, nature, vehicle - Oh yes! company!

Traveling with the wrong kind of of people could easily amount to near death experience out of boredom.

If the company you keep believes in contemplating in the true nature of things, and, what mankind is doing to mother nature etc etc, please push them out!

And, if there is chatter going around that sounds like an incessant cacophony inside of a rain forest and makes the vehicle sound like its on loan for the mumbai zoo - throw these buggers out as well. The key is to select people who are the right mix of both (damn, i sound like an HR manager!)

The 'right' kind of company is essential in enjoying the true value of the journey. Getting caught with the wrong people is horrible - trust me! 

For instance - let us say you were travelling to Ladakh - you would not really be looking for your Maasi to accompany you with her eldest daughter and son in law who have just been married; and; whose last trip taken was their honeymoon -  2 years ago. (you WOULD pass the dark tunnel to the other side with angels saying "I told you so...")

Alternatively, you would not be caught with your craziest buddies on a trip to Vaishno Devi. The kind of buddies with whom you have spent some really memorable times. Times - which, when you think back - you realise - That was so goddamn stupid!

Good company is relative. So i am not going to take a call on what good company should be. But yes - I can give discretionary services based on input factors!

That said - I do believe taking intercity road trips - heck - even a jaunt to the city outskirts is amazing. Clears your head and makes you put things in perspective. Personally, i have always thrown caution, tension, responsibility, Time etc (any of the deep dark depressing things that come to you when you grow up) to the wind.

As i said, very therapeutic and uplifting.

A Journey

People were filling up as the plastic air hostesses started announcing how glad they were that i had chosen to fly their airline.

I smiled. same old BS. Who thinks we are glad that these painted mannequins are this way? I looked away at the airport lights in the distance shimmering away. It was a wonderful although balmy Friday evening as the plane filled up with a myriad cast of people of several ages. Most of these were business travellers who were in Bangalore for some work or some high profile meeting judging from their suits. The air hostesses graciously took these suits off these folks, all well practiced. the people on the other hand
thanked them a wee bit grudgingly.

There were others, professionals like me who were returning to their homes from the IT capital of the country. Others were typically a bunch of people who had made their reservations some months in advance.  This group was chatting away merrily about the latest release and the latest gossip on the block.

I had as usual got the aisle seat and that meant being hit by the hefty luggage that passengers carried into the flight to load into the overhead compartments. The seat next to me was still unoccupied. The window seat had a chatty auntie that was virtually stuck to her phone. I shuddered to think of a conversation with her. I prayed fervently as well that she too wasn't looking to talk to me. The middle seat - It had to be a person who had no torso to fit into one of these seats of the budget airliners.

The very last person to enter was a slightly built man with flowing hair. He was wearing a white shirt and black trousers, very text book. He looked from seat to seat trying to find the number that he had been allotted and his gaze finally settled on the seat next to me.

"Great" i  thought. "no chick this time as well.."

He made his way through the aisle and requested me to move, a slight smile on his face. I smiled back, I'm sure my smile wasn't close to the warm smile that he gave me, I was still expecting some red hot bombshell to come sashaying down the aisle.
Instead it was uncle. It smarted!

He settled in comfortably into the seat. It seemed that he took the shape of the seat given the calm expression on his face. No one could have been so comfortable in his position. I was in no mood of conversation, he nonchalantly looked at me and made an attempt to fish out the newspaper from the seat back pocket.

The air hostesses closed the door and made the mandatory flight safety instructions. I looked around with a bored expression on my face. Even the air hostesses were uninspiring, most of them would look hideous if their faces were scrubbed clean of the plaster.
I wanted to get through the flight and home quickly.

"Going home?"

I did not want to talk.

"Hmmm..." I thought that that response would stop the flow. It signified that I acknowledged your question, but please don't take this forward. Didn't work.

"I am too...", he said.

I studied him, I had not seen him very well earlier. He had silvery hair and gold rimmed spectacles. His eyes were slightly blue, a calmness came over me.

I had no response. I turned back. It was strange to be sitting in the aisle seat of a crowded  budget airline with a gaggle of people chatting away, their decibel levels far from quiet and suddenly feel calm.

"You seem discontent...disturbed.." he continued as if reading the expression on my face.

I turned to him again, i did not want to speak right away. I just looked at him with furrowed brows. "What makes you say that?" I finally asked.

"I have increasingly noticed this in the younger generation." he continued ignoring my question.

"Let me guess he said - only child, living away from parents in a big city. Looking for emotional comfort...Profession demands certain sacrifices now. Does it not?"
He put the question to me.

My silence was getting a bit out of hand. I was a debater in my college and this dude was bowling a googly.

"Yes..yes.. yes..."  - I stammered; the third 'yes' totally gave my discomfiture away. He settled into reading his paper in with a satisfied smile.
I too looked away, this man sent a queer feeling in my brain. I did not want to explore it right away either.

"But isn't that a bit presumptuous?" I questioned him, trying to revive the debater inside of me.
"That's your ego speaking." he replied quickly.

I was taken aback. his bluntness hit me.
"What?!" I asked him incredulously and a bit hotly as well.

"Yes." he replied in his calm manner that was getting a bit irritating by now.
He did not offer any explanation. Rather, he went back to reading his paper. The auntie in the window seat that I had completely ignored till now, was sleeping. My - 'what?!' - made her fidget in her sleep.

The Air hostess came with nimbu paani. She looked bored, the evening flights did this to most of the crew. I picked one and thanked her for it. The man next to me took nothing and smiled at her warmly enough as he declined. She smiled back and it looked genuine!
In fact she smiled at him longer than she did at me (which smarted - again). Even her tired voice picked up after that and she seemed more jovial. I was surprised - would be an understatement.

He gave me another look and dove back into his paper. My discomfort knew no bounds. Here was a man who seemed to know more about me than i would rather let on; sitting right next to me, having some profound impact even on the plasticine air hostesses as well.

I deduced (wrongly) that this was some cocky guy who thought that reading 'The speaking tree' everyday in the newspaper allowed him in making such high and mighty statements. That mustered some confidence inside me and i spoke.

"I think you are the victim of a generation gap." I must have looked foolishly triumphant as he gave me a condescending smile and looked at me with the same warmth that he had shown to the air hostess earlier.
It did feel nice, looking at him smile benignly like that.

"Akshay..." he began, "a generation gap is with respect to the worldly likings of an individual. Deep down, we are pretty much seeking the same thing - All of us."

My mouth was open as i sat gaping there clutching at my seat belt. How in the bloody wide world did this guy i had just met know my name.

As if reading my thoughts, he continued, "Oh! and by the way, I read your name on the boarding card sticking out of your pocket."
I shut my mouth instantly. If this guy could calm you down with his smile, he could unsettle you with his words as well.

The flight took off. I never liked this part, the climb, it made me feel a tad bit uncomfortable. He on the other hand nonchalantly turned to the sports section. Disinterested he folded it up and put it back in the seat pocket as the flight banked towards the north.

"There is a truth and there are fabrications." he continued after the flight stabilised and the seat belt sign switched off. It's as if he never had stopped speaking.
"The truth is that we are all, you, that air hostess, this lady sleeping peacefully next to us, all, are looking for stability. much like this aircraft."

"Come to think of it, isn't our life like this aircraft's journey? You take off, unstable and shaky. Then slowly you settle down, still shaking from time to time, there is turbulence hitting you -"
and as if on cue, the plane shook buffeted by winds outside even as the seat belt sign blazed on again.

I did not like turbulence, everyone had a slightly concerned expression on their faces. Although, the plane quickly stabilised again.
"But calmness always returns..." he finished.

It sounded like a discourse; but given my situation, I was in rapt attention. he spoke softly, a slight northern accent to his speech.
"You only have to believe that there is someone at the front of the airplane. controlling it. the pilot. A guide that knows exactly where you need to go.; It might not be a straight line, it may be zig-zag; it may even take time..."
The speaker crackled and the pilot spoke about a flight delay due to air traffic conditions over Mumbai.

"See what i mean?" he looked at me enquiringly.
My speechlessness continued.

"You will finally reach your destination. Believe me. But sitting in your seat fidgeting over the delay - instead of enjoying the view out  of the window isn't the best way to arrive now, is it?"
he looked at me questioningly over his spectacles. I looked out across the snoring auntie and sure enough the moon was blooming through the clouds in all its grandeur.

"It could be worse, he said lowering his voice conspiratorially. You could probably sleep right through it..." he said motioning to the chatty auntie.

I could not help but smile at that, it felt like a prankster who was setting a lighted matchstick in sleeping persons toes.

"Relax and enjoy the journey." The pilot spoke on cue. I looked at the man, he gave a knowing smile as he fished out the in flight mag as he put the newspaper in.

I was lost in thought for a while as the pilot announced our imminent arrival. The man was, by now, asleep with the mag resting on his chest.

I had created a million questions on my mind by this time, but none of them really mattered in the simple analogy that he talked of.
"How do you believe? How does anyone believe? Is there proof? What about fate? what about destiny? What about life's unexpected twists and accidents?" i wanted to retort...

The plane landed and the lights came on. I waited for him to get up. I wanted to ask him all these questions. But now the people were all awake and the chatty auntie was back to troubling her poor cellphone and any unfortunate relative on the other end. I kept quiet not wanting to draw attention to what i thought was a weird enough conversation.

We deplaned and walked the tarmac over towards the waiting buses, I could not ask him over the roar of the engines of a passing Boeing - I boarded the bus that seemed pretty full. There was no place for him, i wanted to get off this bus to talk him about what I had in mind - I only caught this bit as the doors closed,

"there are no accidents...
You just have to believe."

He waved as the bus pulled off and another emerged to pick the rest of them up.
I did not see him at the baggage terminal, i waited for a while and then walked away - profoundly unsettled but a tad bit wiser.

The Matrix, Reloaded and Revolutions

Was watching the matrix series for the umpteenth time since it first came on screen. It is a brilliant job done by the Wachwoski brothers. I cannot help but marvel at the dialogues in the movie. Just this afternoon; I was discussing the same with one my close friends. I wasn't kidding around when I said how the scriptwriter hated humans. There are plenty of instances in the movie where one of the characters spouts a line that strikes the essence of human beings and rings resoundingly true; even if a tad bit exaggerated.

But i digress.
What I do intend to speak about is the fact that through the whole series, there is only one very bright underlying message that shines through all the breathtaking action sequences, the well orchestrated fights, the snappily succinct dialogue and some outrageously hilarious costumes (read: Trinity). and that is the everlasting message of hope. What we choose to believe in. In the face of the greatest adversity, when our very own, turn their backs away from us, and scoff at the very idea that has concreted itself in our heads. It is a difficult path to tread, but salvation is guaranteed.

And therein lies the story of hope and love. That human life is not to be taken as a series of well thought out logical-equation-oriented plans that need to have an outcome A or a B. They digress into various yawning chasms to crevasses and caverns and wormholes and what have you to emerge finally in the bright sunshine of a new dawn; a new hope. That is what the movie is intended at.

The obvious links to ancient Hindu and Christian mythological characters is not missed. The incarnation, resurrection and balance of the male and the female power that breed creation is admirably portrayed in celluloid. The lust for power, greed and dominance is so in your face and offset by the selflessness and quietly flamboyant, if not retiring - nature of the main character. (well, sure the guy can fly, sucks that hes gotta lose the girl in the end)

My immense admiration lies in the fact that although the movie is an out and out sci fi action thriller, which not many have missed (from my inferences drawn from my talks over this topic) it also slips in a humongous message of a 'certain deranged belief' that one needs for success - nay - salvation; which unfortunately; many have.

Oh, and Trinity kicks ass! :D